Improvement in bee-hives



- K 2Sheets--She-et-l. iE. GERRY. Bee-Hive.

Patented April 6,1875.

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THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOT0 .LITH.39 E: 41 PARK PIACE, N.V.

EDSON GERRY, OF GARDEN CITY, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,606, dated April 6, 1875; application filed February 26, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDSON GERRY, of' the town of Garden City, in the county of Blue Earth and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bee- Hives; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a sectional bee-hive, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my bee-hive. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig.

3 is a rear elevation, partly in longitudinalY section. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the sections; and Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detached views of certain parts thereof.

A represents the exterior shell or house in which the sections are placed. On the bottom of the shell A are cross-bars suitably arranged to receive the sections and form under each section a closed chamber, a, which forms the moth-trap. The sections vare made of frames B B, and filled in around with bulrushes, iags, prairie-grass, or other material, C, that will absorb the moisture that accumulates from the breath, thereby keeping the bees in a dry and healthy condition. These rushes or ilags are secured at the top and bottom of the frame B, and secured at or near the center by cross-bars B', by which means the rushes can be put in straight without braiding or weaving, and can be replaced by ordinary labor when desired. The sections B G are arranged side by side, all fronting the same way, to be drawn out on the back side of the case for examination or otherwise, the case or shell being for that purpose provided with tight-fitting doors A' on the back. On the front of the case A is an alighting-board, E, with extended entrance D for each section. These vextended entrances are of great advantage, as it gives greater facility for guarding the hive. The upper portion of the board E forms a passage, a', to the inside of the case A, and the y frames B are provided with a passage, a. The frames B are set a little distance from the case A, leaving a downward passage, a", leading to the chamber a. The tube b leads Vfrom the chamber a to the outside of the hive. The object of this construction is that the bees and moth both enter the passage a. The bees will pass onto the frames through passage a, while the moths, following the wood-where they can get a footing-will take the downward passage a and go into the moth-chamber a. The tubes b, placed at the bottom of the chamber, furnish a ray of light, which attracts the moths, and they pass through the tube b, and are conducted to the outside ofthe hive, thus dispensing with the trouble of cleaning the mothtrap. The sections have passages d through them for the bees to pass from one to the other, the passages in two adjoining sections communicating through a passage, d', in the frame-work supporting the sections. The passages d may be closed by reversing the board G, (shown in Fig. 7,) and in position in Fig. 3, when changing sections or for any purpose it is desired to cut off communication between the sections. Each section is to be provided with suitable comb-frames for the bees to build their comb on. The surplus honey is to be made in suitable honeyboxes running crosswise across the frames on top of the honey-board H. (Shown in Fig. 5.)

The upper side of the honey-board is constructed with boxes c c, as shown, for the reception of water, salt, rye-flour, or other material used as feed for the bees. This board H has perforations c c', through which the bees can pass from the frames, and the board is cut away at e e', so that the bees have a free passage over the board. The corners of the board are cut off at f, and the tops of the frames are provided with blocks f of corresponding form, so that the board H lits on the frames B, forming a feed-box, while the under portion forms a surface -for the combframes.

On top of the case A is a ventilator, I, of suitable construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The extended entrance D and alightingboard E, forming passage a', in combination with the sections having passages a", and the open space forming passage al, leading to chamber a, and the tube b on the bottom of chamber leading to the outside of the hive, all as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The sections, substantially as described, having passages d and df, in combination with the reversible board G and case A, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The open-top frames B, provided with blocks f, in combination with the board H, with cut corners and chambers e, and perforations c', and openings e', forming a bee-feeder and a support for comb-frames, all as and for the purpose set forth. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I affix my signature n presence of two Witnesses.

EDSON GERRY. ...Witnesses J. J. LowE, N. D. J AY. 

